This policy brief, authored by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), examines Kenya’s private sector transition toward a circular economy and its associated challenges. The document outlines key findings from a comprehensive study, including an assessment of existing policy frameworks, current levels of awareness among businesses regarding circular economy principles, and factors that incentivize or disincentivize this transition. It further identifies business opportunities stemming from current legislation. Ultimately, the brief concludes with recommendations aimed at overcoming identified bottlenecks and accelerating Kenya’s shift toward a more sustainable economic model.
Background and Context
The circular economy (CE) is globally recognized for promoting environmental protection, sustainable economic growth, and societal well-being. It offers solutions to critical environmental challenges like resource overexploitation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Kenya has initiated efforts to integrate CE practices into its national development, supported by policies and laws such as the National Environmental Policy of 2013, the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan 2016-2030, and the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022.
Despite these legislative efforts, Kenya’s transition to a CE is in its “early stages with few businesses in the private sector involved in best practices such as product redesign to reduce the generation of problematic and unnecessary packaging materials, use of raw materials with less carbon and ecological footprint and investment in recycling technologies.”
KEPSA conducted a comprehensive survey to assess the private sector’s engagement in CE and identify challenges, involving 384 respondents from diverse sectors (agriculture, energy, manufacturing, transport, tourism and hospitality, education, construction, healthcare, waste management, wholesale, and retail) across six counties.
